At some point being mediocre becomes an anchor. The Toronto Raptors insisted that this past season was about growth and development, and their development grew them right out of the top spots in the draft. The Raptors had their eyes, and hopes, on three players and watched with sadness as each of them went before they had an opportunity to select. In the end they added the best available shooter in order to help a struggling offence.

The Raptors first choice in this draft would have been Bradley Beal, shooting guard from Florida. But there was no way Beal was going to be there at eight so they focussed on the three players they hoped would be there for them.

Dion Waiters was a surprise fourth selection—taken by Cleveland—and put the Raptors in full recovery mode. That was much higher than Waiters was expected to go—he had been the one they believed who was likely to fall to them. Suddenly their choices were down to two with still three selections remaining. Sacramento then took Thomas Robinson, whom the Raptors had almost no interest in, giving them a boost of confidence. They needed just one of the two teams selecting before them to choose someone different. They did not.

Portland took point guard Damian Lillard and Golden State, looking to fill a similar position to the Raptors chose Harrison Barnes. The small forward from North Carolina had been on the Raptors radar since his first game in college two years ago, and in the end they fell one slot short of getting him. And that slot was lost on a coin toss made by the NBA after the season when the Raptors and Warriors finished with the same won-loss record. Not even coin tosses go the Raptors way.

So who is Terrence Ross and why did the Raptors make an unexpected move for him? When the season ended and coach Dwane Casey was asked what the team needed to improve for next year he answered with one word—“shooters.” Ross is a shooter and is similar to Beal in that both are intense athletic wings who possess great shooting skills. The Raptors liked his workout, like his toughness and think his defence will work well within Casey’s system.

The top heavy draft was supposed to yield a cornerstone player but by the time the Raptors chose those cornerstone type players were gone. They had to be happy simply adding a solid player to their rotation. Ross will be the shooting guard off the bench who will initially spell starter DeMar DeRozan, but as the youngster becomes more comfortable with the NBA game he will play likely alongside DeRozan and give the Raptors two quality back court scoring threats.

The Raptors scored a little bit of a coup with their second round selection. Quincy Acy will bring a Reggie Evans zeal to the game, and as Colangelo stated during the post draft press conference Acy is “Reggie Evans with a free throw.”

With the draft over the Raptors can no turn their attention to the pro game and add the necessary veteran pieces to their young core. The Raptors want to accelerate the program by making the playoffs next year. The trade of Leandro Barbosa at the deadline opened up some salary cap space for the team if they needed it on draft night—but they did not. In fact there was very little movement among teams on draft night—teams preferred to simply stay put and make their selection.

The rumours are rampant that the Raptors seek to sign free agent guard Steve Nash. As beneficial as his signing would mean to Canadian basketball the question that has to be asked is whether he can help the basketball team. Would the 38 year old Nash would be a substantial enough upgrade over 30 year old Jose Calderon to warrant the other needs the move would create?

Now if the Raptors were to add a quick and attacking point guard like Kyle Lowry that would be different as Lowry can break down a defender and get to the rim. Could the Raptors public interest in Lowry be a fall-back option in case they don’t get Nash—or, feeling greedy, perhaps Lowry, who does not possess a heavy contact, would be willing to share time with Nash in Toronto? Otherwise I view Calderon as Nash-lite. And if any contender offers Nash similar money the likelihood is that the lure of winning a title would supersede his desire to play at home. Imagine Nash as the replacement for another aging point guard, Derek Fisher, in Oklahoma City. Wouldn’t the Thunder look good if they had Nash feedingWestbrook and Durant?

Adding Nash would be a tremendous boon to the marketing of the club, both nationally and internationally, and he would immediately become the face of the franchise. His presence would take the media pressure off the other Raptor players, and with his self-effacing and cordial manner he would easily be the press favourite and the voice of a new generation of Canadian basketball fans. But other moves would need to follow. Calderon and Nash would duplicate each other on the court. Calderon has established himself as starter in this league so he would need to be moved.

Calderon will earn a little more than $10 million next year and if the Raptors were able to sign Nash for a similar amount—say three years and $30 million—and then deal Calderon the club could have its cake to eat as well. The danger is that Calderon’s contract may not fit into any team’s budget which would force the Raptors to amnesty him. It’s doubtful that ownership would like the idea of taking a ten million kick in the back of their newly pressed pants.

His age has to be a consideration. There is a strong possibility Nash would miss a sizeable portion of the schedule, not so much due to his age but to his legendary bad back, so the Raptors have to ensure they have a ready replacement. Perhaps a young point guard who was capable of playing starter minutes—someone like Jerryd Bayless, who has stated his desire to return to the club next year. The danger here is that Bayless is a restricted free agent and could be signed to a contract by a competitor at a term too prohibitive for them, and that might force a scramble to find a competent replacement.

Bayless has proven in his nearly two years as a Raptor that he can play, however scattered at times, at a high level. And perhaps Nash’s advice can help refine the raw talent Bayless possesses and teach him how to be an efficient point guard. If a young player in this league wants to improve he is very likely to listen to a two-time league MVP—who should have won a third.

So lots of work if the Raptors want Steve Nash—but then again they’ve had a year to plan and haven’t done much in the interim. Bryan Colangelo has talked process since hiring Casey last year—and perhaps that process hinges on their ability to convince Nash to be a Raptor. The club’s high executive entourage were on their way to meet Nash the minute free agency begins.

Nothing like having a band of well dressed men on your front porch at one minute past midnight.

Hopefully this particular gang is bearing presents.

Thoughts that arise in me

…In a similar hopeful vein the Blue Jays would like to be in the wild card hunt when the trade deadline arrives at the end of July. Teams such as the Cubs, who possess highly desired arms, are in no hurry to part with them and will continue their search for the best deal until the deadline. The Blue Jays need to find enough arms to support a burgeoning offence and keep the club competitive until a starter can be acquired. In the meantime the club sends out soft-tossing lefties Brett Cecil and Aaron Laffey with the king of soft tossing lefties Jamie Moyer in the minors and just a phone call away.

…Anyone notice that pitchers around baseball are starting to drop like flies. In the AL East the Jays, who at one time had the healthiest unit, lost three starters in one week. The Red Sox are suffering through a tough season with their pitchers and now both Tampa Bay and New York are feeling the effects of injured starters. There has been talk about having four man rotations but in this era of tight contests and heavy travel it may actually be better to go to a six man unit. That might help the health of pitchers but there are teams that don’t have two quality starters—let alone six.

…It’s funny but as much as Lebron James is detested for his Decision and the perceived arrogance and selfishness it implied, and as much as Chris Bosh manipulated the city of Toronto and the Raptor organization for selfish purposes it is actually Dwyane Wade whom I feel has become the most despised of the Heat stars. Wade was shown to be belligerent toward officials whining for every call and a player who trots back on defence and cherry picks at every opportunity.

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